LEIGHTON Andrews met with pupils and teachers at Bedlinog Community Primary School to launch a new website set to improve reading and writing in the borough.

LEIGHTON Andrews met with pupils and teachers at Bedlinog Community Primary School to launch a new website set to improve reading and writing in the borough.

The education minister officially launched Learning Opens the Magic Door, a four-year scheme developed by Merthyr Tydfil Council, to raise the profile of reading, writing, maths and technology.

Bedlinog Community Primary was chosen to launch the campaign after they were the first borough school to implement Synthetic Phonics training Oxford’s new Read Write Inc literacy system.

The council’s campaign has been given the slogan: “Merthyr Reads – Merthyr Succeeds.”

Starting with a website, animation and several events in Merthyr, the campaign will give people advice on how to improve their reading and also aims to ignite interest in reading.

Mr Andrews said: “Raising standards of literacy is one of my priorities for all schools in Wales. The Merthyr Reads – Merthyr Succeeds initiative has already made great strides in encouraging pupils and parents to re-engage with reading which is welcome news.

“As part of this initiative, I am delighted to be launching the Learning Opens the Magic Door website today.”

The minister also presented a prize of a mini iPad to Brandon Court, five, of Trelewis Primary School, who entered a competition to name the characters featured in the animation on the website, calling them Jess and Ted.

WalesOnline is part of Media Wales, publisher of the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the seven Celtic weekly titles, offering you unique access to our audience across Wales online and in print.